Wellesley is abuzz this weekend about news that Larry Ng, who owned a pair of gas stations/garages across from each other on Rte. 9 in Wellesley Hills, has retired from the business.
While there is reportedly more to this story, an employee at one of the stations told Mrs. Swellesley that Ng took early retirement for health reasons, as he plans to get surgery on his legs that will involve a long recovery. We’ve been unable to get more information about Ng’s whereabouts at this point.
While I confess that I never took my car to Ng (I always heard great things about him, but the business just wasn’t on my circuit), I did happen to meet the Honda-loving mechanic at his station across from the fire station for the first time a couple of weeks ago on a Sunday when the shop was closed and we each just happened to be stopped there.
Ng has been recognized for his service over the years, including with a 2005 Community Appreciation Award during Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend. According to the Better Business Bureau, Larry Ng’s Auto Repair has been operating since the late 1980s.
An outpouring of tributes for Ng has flooded online forums, including our Facebook page:
- “Larry Ng is an extraordinary man. He is a very knowledgeable and expetienced mechanic especially on hondas and foreign cars. And a great guy to know and work for.
Hes very polite fair and trustful.
A man of his word.
He created a precision run business with a zest for customer service.” - “Larry your instincts for car repair go beyond talent and experience. You have a gift. Best of luck in retirement, you certainly earned it.”
- “Seriously the end of an era. He will be missed!”
He’s a great guy and an amazing mechanic. He would ask me questions over the phone and diagnose the problem without having even taken a look at the car. I will sorely miss him!
My lone experience with Larry was an expensive repair that didn’t repair the problem. I didn’t return. I haven’t missed Larry in the ten years since that “repair” and I certainly won’t miss him now.
Just went there today for a routine oil/filter change and front end work. Sure it feels different now that Larry is gone, but recognized familiar faces among the mechanics. Mike is now the head mechanic, actually has somewhat better social skills than Larry. Larry’s ex-wife seems to mainly work as an interface with the customer since she speaks flawless English, Mike does all the technical stuff. Pricing seemed fair as usual, will keep coming back.
I have come back for some repairs just hoping somehow Larry would greet me and remove the feeling of great loss
The mechanical expertise seems yohave waned
The office has been cleaned up and painted and the newspapers I used to browse through arenotyhere anymore
Cost cutting of an interesting g kind
I miss the old smells and the hectic activity that made me sit up and feel awe
Dear Larry , hope you are doing well
The place is not the same without you it is just another car repair place
Miss you and hope you will start s new place
Call it anything many of us will be there in a heartbeT
I really miss your calls to uncle ordering parts and re-election Ng off VIN numbers while spinning on your stool
Best wishes
I am one of the many people who misses Larry and his excellent work. Does anyone know if Larry has set up a new shop? If so, where ? My friends and I would travel a long way to have Larry take care of our cars. Thanks. Pam
I truly am sorry to hear of Larry’s departure. I live all the way out in Harvard, MA but distance was never a consideration to have my Prius serviced by him due to his confidence, competence and quip humor kept me coming back. He always knew his customers by certain particular uniqueness to each customer who walked in who had used his service prior. For me, he was always dumbfounded by how my 06 Prius broke the 500k miles mark! He always said Toyota makes their cars for the long haul! But my case proved to be a cherry beyond a doubt.
I am hopeful to find an even close comporable to Larry going forward. Trust, honesty, personality consistent with care and yet a quip of humor kept us all coming back.
I will miss you surely –
Larry’s is not the same any more. The number of mechanics here has dropped by 90%. The business looks dead and I don’t have the same confidence in them. Larry’s departure seems very suspicious. I wonder if he set up shop somewhere else. I’m going to try to find Larry or look for another auto repair shop.
30 years. How is this possible? Wishing the best, most professional, most honest mechanic and businessman a full recovery. I already miss you!
There is only one Larry Ng–he was a true expert in his field. He took care of my 2 Lexus’s & Ford Explorer–quick, clean and reasonable always with a smile and a quip.. Can you imagine mechanics picking up and delivering my vehicles to my house? What a guy who can never be replaced AND it was so convenient. I dive buy his old place and it is like a morgue; they even removed the full service island–guess I’ll now have to get the other half to fill up in the bad weather! Good luck with your health–you are THEE BEST and will not be forgotten. Jennifer M
We have been using Larry Ng for over 20 years and we miss him already. He was always honest and could fit in car emergencies. He always remembered us and our cars. Larry would share advice such as this car is still good when we asked, or after more than 12 years with one Honda Odessy and mounting repairs, “time for a new car”. When we moved to a nearby town we still took all our cars back to Larry because he did a great job at a fair price and we trusted him to check all the work. We wish him the best and hope his surgery goes well!
Larry you were so wonderful. We will miss you terribly
and our cars will miss you even more.
So sad! I finally found my mechanic. I felt like I could always trust Larry. He was always fair, efficient, and accommodating. I wish you all the best, Larry!
We used Larry for over 25 years with multiple cars. He would always squeeze you in if you had an urgent problem. He would also personally test drive each car he repaired.
Larry was an auto repair genius, and he seemed to operate at about twice the normal human speed. He spoke very rapidly, so you had to make sure you had already drunk your coffee and had your game on, so you could understand him. He would quickly explain and even draw diagrams of the car’s problem, and often put the old/replaced parts in the new boxes on the front passenger floor so you could see that he had really replaced them with the auto manufacturer’s approved parts. He would always give you his full attention, but would often be multitasking by ordering parts on the phone.
We will miss him greatly.
Most skilled, honest, and kind mechanic I have ever known. Take care of yourself but please come back! You are a legend!!!!
Dear Larry: To put it clear and loud: there is more to this than retirement. We have talked a lot during the last 25 years plus. You would have never left like this. Retirement?? No way!! Your energy level, your honesty, your incredible humanity and kindness cannot be replaced. You are one of a kind in your trade and as a human being. Your integrity is your best skill. I cannot thank you enough for all these years. For your help to all my family members and myself.
Have the surgery, recover and come back to all of us that care for you and wish you the best because YOU ARE THE BEST!! You have an inmense club of fans and we will follow you where ever you go. We will “come down”as soon as you tell us where to go. Be well my friend!!! We hope to hear from you soon. Gisela and all the family.
More than your excellence in auto knowledge is the quality human being you are. You have our deep respect and sincere gratitude. Our very best wishes to you. Bill, Ann & Jess
Larry I can’t believe you are retiring!! We will miss you and your constant upbeat attitude! Our cars , our grand children’s cars and soon to be great grand children’s cars will miss you also. Bless you and we pray for a great outcome when surgery is completed. our very best. “Mr and Mrs. commissioner” Liz and Owen Dugan and family
I am devastated! Who is taking it over? Hopefully someone Larry has hand picked. He will be missed greatly!
I’m like so many former customers who, over the decades, grew to appreciate Larry’s spot on Rt. 9 .It might take just a few minutes in his office/waiting area to pick up on Larry’s gift for orchestrating a well oiled operation. From his command post at the desk, he drew on keen diagnostic abilities and his skilled staff to resolve
a mechanical problem in record time. Bystanders meanwhile, were often treated to his humorous running commentary and witty phone monologues.
Larry oversaw the health of my two successive stick shift Hondas, giving me the confidence to zoom well past a hundred thousand miles on each.
As he moves ahead with surgery and the prospect of good health, I suspect that Larry’s ingenuity and energy will lead him to an interesting next chapter. It should be a good read.
It had to happen, Larry had to retire, but what a sad, sad day for all of us in Wellesley who have relied on him. Larry, if you need anything, call me. Now you can rely on me the way I relied on you with my cars for so many years.
The Teacher
I found about Larry Ng when I was teaching in Wellesley at Hunnewell School. All the teachers took their cars to him and he would even give them rides back to school. For years I was “teacher Patty” when I’d come in with my car. Sitting in his office was entertainment for sure. I told him he could compete with the “Click and Clack” show on NPR. He was so thorough in his care for my many cars over the past 20+ years and he always responded to an emergency with the comment, “Bring it right in, I’ll take care of you.” That was Larry…a kind, sweet, very hardworking man whom I wish all the best with his health and retirement. We will miss you so much! Patty and Larry Lawrence
I am still stunned. I just can’t imagine not seeing Larry perched on the chair at the station, overseeing 20 things at once, writing up your bill, while ordering parts on the phone. Our family trusted all our vehicles to Larry for as long as I can remember. He was always honest and fast and made sure you did not waste your money, if your car was on its last legs. We wish Larry all the best and we will miss him.
WE have had to replace our Primary Care Doctor,
WE have had to replace our Dentist.
We have had to replace deceased friends.
We have had to move to a smaller house.
There is NO replacement for Larry Ng.
He is a man of integrity, intelligence and humor, a master of his craft, He served us, our sibling, our children and since this spring(2017) a grandchild.
Larry, may your Surgeon possess ALL the qualities which are attributed to you so that the outcome of your treatment is equally
successful as your work was and without complications.
That was beautifully said. We have been through all the same replacements: doctor, dentist etc, but this one is by far the hardest. I cannot even imagine having someone other than Larry Ng being in charge of the health of our vehicles.
Marianne and David Laffitte
I guarantee that even if Larry is retiring, (which I hope is true but refuse to believe) he will be watching to make certain they open at 7:00 am. If he knows you well enough he calls you Uncle which means he treats you like family. Regulars know that if your car is costing you too much to maintain he will tell you to get rid of it and buy a Honda. We love you Larry and will miss you. Thanks for the memories!
Larry and his crew were the best in town. Helped my family out many times, emergency tire repairs along with mechanical malfunctions. Honesty, hard working and we’ll get the job done attitude was his claim to fame. Wishing him a successful operation and a speedy recovery. A well deserved rest, for sure!
He bailed us out on short notice so many times! And those guys were an inspiration in terms of how hard they worked. I made sure my kids observed it and sometimes took treats over with us. I wish we could do something for the family now to honor him.
25 years of taking care of my family’s cars. As a businessman, Larry has that rare combination of talent, hard work, fairness and humor that made him a success and a ‘GREAT person to do business with. Wishing you only the best in your retirement Larry. It’s been a pleasure.
Larry is the greatest. That’s all there is to say. I wish him a speedy recovery.
24 years, 12 cars. Endless oil changes, brakes, flat tires. We’ll miss you!